📖 Tom Sawyer – Chapter 9 (Adapted for English Learners)
Title: A Secret Oath
Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn could not sleep after what they had seen in the graveyard. Every time they closed their eyes, they saw Doctor Robinson lying dead, and Injun Joe’s fierce eyes shining in the moonlight.
The boys met early the next morning behind the old sawmill, away from everyone’s eyes. They were pale and nervous, whispering instead of speaking out loud.
“Huck, we’re in awful trouble,” Tom said.
“Awful? It’s worse than awful,” Huck replied. “If Injun Joe ever finds out we saw him, we’re dead men.”
They both sat in silence, shaking their heads.
“What’ll we do, Huck?” Tom asked finally.
“We swear never to tell,” Huck said. “If we keep our mouths shut, we’ll be safe.”
The two boys agreed that this was the only way. They decided to take a blood oath, the most serious kind of promise they knew.
The Blood Oath
They found a broken piece of board and used a rusty nail to scratch their words into it:
We, Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn, swear that we will never tell about this night at the graveyard. If we do, may we drop dead and rot.
Then they each pricked their finger with the nail and pressed them together until the blood mixed. It was painful, but it made the oath real.
“Now it’s done,” Tom said solemnly.
“Forever,” Huck agreed.
Poor Muff Potter
Later that morning, the town was full of talk. Everyone had heard the news: Doctor Robinson was dead, and Muff Potter was in jail, accused of the murder.
Tom and Huck listened silently as people discussed it in the street. Most said it was no surprise. Muff was always drunk, always getting into trouble. But a few people said they couldn’t believe Muff was a killer.
Tom’s heart ached. He and Huck knew Muff was innocent. But the oath bound them. They couldn’t say a word.
That afternoon, the boys crept to the edge of the jail. Through the bars they saw Muff sitting on a wooden bench, his face sad but strangely calm.
“Boys,” Muff said kindly, “you’ve been good friends to me. Don’t stop visiting, will you?”
Tom nearly burst into tears. He wanted to shout the truth, but Huck gripped his arm. The oath was stronger than their courage. They walked away silently.
Guilt and Fear
That night, Tom tossed and turned in bed. He dreamed of the graveyard again and again. Each time he saw Injun Joe’s cruel smile. He woke up sweating.
He wanted to tell Aunt Polly, or Sid, or anyone. But the words of the oath echoed in his ears: If we tell, may we drop dead and rot.
The fear and guilt grew heavier each day. Tom became quieter, and Aunt Polly noticed his pale face and worried eyes. She thought he was sick.
But Tom’s sickness was in his heart, not his body. He was carrying a terrible secret—and he didn’t know how long he could bear it.
📘 Glossary
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Oath | A very serious promise |
| Blood oath | A promise made by mixing blood as a sign of loyalty |
| Rot | To decay, to break down like something dead |
| Innocent | Not guilty of a crime |
| Accused | Said to have committed a crime, but not proven |
| Guilt | A bad feeling when you know you’ve done wrong |
| Tossed and turned | Could not sleep, moving around in bed |
| Bear | To carry or endure something difficult |
❓ Comprehension Questions
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Why couldn’t Tom and Huck sleep after the graveyard?
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What kind of oath did they take, and how did they make it?
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Who was accused of the murder?
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How did Muff Potter react to the boys visiting him in jail?
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Why couldn’t Tom and Huck tell the truth?
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How did keeping the secret affect Tom?
✅ Answers
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Because they kept remembering the murder they had seen.
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A blood oath—they pricked their fingers and mixed their blood.
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Muff Potter.
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He thanked them kindly and asked them to keep visiting.
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Because they were too afraid of Injun Joe and bound by the oath.
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He became pale, quiet, and full of guilt and fear.
